By Meghan Cooke
mcooke@salisburypost.com
Local volunteers are gearing up ó and looking for help ó to clear the environment of litter in the Big Sweep 2009.
The event, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, will focus on areas around High Rock Lake.
When Rowan County Big Sweep Coordinator Mike Lambert was scoping out locations for last year’s sweep, he discovered that the File Road access area was in need of some cleaning. “I was just astonished at the amount of trash out there,” he said.
He returned to the area two weeks ago and there was just as much trash as there was last year prior to the Big Sweep, he said.
The county Big Sweep is part of the N.C. Big Sweep, a nonprofit organization that strives for a litter-free environment and waterways. Since its founding, the organization has collected more than 9.3 million pounds of trash across the state.
Last year, 109 volunteers collected 190 bags of trash in Rowan County.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the entrance of Dan Nicholas Park at 9 a.m. on Sept. 19. The cleanup will conclude at 1 p.m.
Volunteers will remove trash from wildlife access areas, including areas of Bringle Ferry Road and File Road, as well as the Eagle Point Nature Preserve.
Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Lambert recommended that participants wear heavy shoes and old clothing. Participants are also encouraged to bring bug spray, sunscreen, water and snacks.
For more information, contact Lambert at 704-216-7833 or james.lambert@rowancountync.gov.